Mitch McConnell

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News about Mitch McConnell, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 25, 2015

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will allow vote on bill solely to fund Homeland Security Dept, followed by vote on bill to block Pres Obama's 2014 executive action on immigration; two-bill solution offers way out of impasse created when House passed funding bill that included repeal of Obama's immigration action. MORE

Jan. 21, 2015

Allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are setting up 'super PAC' devoted to helping Republicans maintain control of Senate in 2016. MORE

Dec. 23, 2014

Sen Mitch McConnell, incoming majority leader, says in interview that his main challenge will be to make chamber functional again and persuading Republicans accustomed to voting no to vote yes on legislation. MORE

Dec. 21, 2014

Editorial urges Speaker John Boehner and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to strengthen Freedom of Information Act as soon as next Congress convenes; notes that issue has bipartisan support, and only reason it did not pass in lame-duck Congress was because Boehner refused to schedule vote on Senate bill, despite unanimous approval of similar bill in House earlier in year. MORE

Nov. 6, 2014

Editorial notes Pres Obama's post-election news conference in which he refused to submit to Republican narrative that his presidency effectively ended with midterm elections; supports Obama's vow to not let Republicans gut health care law; observes that both Obama and new Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell outlined areas where they hope to find common ground. MORE

Nov. 6, 2014

Political Memo; relationship between expected Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and President Obama could determine Obama's legislative legacy and Republican presidential fortunes in 2016; they have had six years of sparse communication and social interaction but frequent open hostility. MORE

Nov. 6, 2014

Kentucky Republican Sen Mitch McConnell, fresh from his re-election victory and his party's powerful showing nationwide, pledges as next Senate majority leader to break stalemate in Washington; after winning full control of Congress, GOP plans to move quickly to show they can legislate, aware that they risk backlash if they fail to deliver; charts and graphs depict shift in seats in five selection year swings since 1946, showing party gains. MORE

Nov. 5, 2014

Editorial contends Republicans took control of Senate in midterm elections by campaigning on pure negativity, what they call failure of Pres Obama; calls on Sen Mitch McConnell to prove as the new Senate majority leader that Republicans are not devoted to perpetual conflict and actually want to govern rather than obstruct. MORE

Nov. 5, 2014

The Upshot; decision on part of Democrats to pour attention and money into Kentucky to defeat Sen Mitch McConnell was almost certainly strategic mistake; McConnell's victory over Alison Lundergan Grimes was entirely foreseeable, and Democrats distracted themselves from races where they had better chances in Senate races that stayed close to until the end. MORE

Oct. 31, 2014

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who hopes to be the next Senate majority leader, travels rural Kentucky in his tough re-election campaign with a group of supporters including country singer Lee Greenwood; faces Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes, upstart half his age, who has strong support in big cities like Louisville. MORE

Oct. 16, 2014

Demand in Kentucky for appearances by Hillary Clinton, who campaigned with Alison Lundergan Grimes, Democratic candidate trying to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, underscores racial and class divisions she needs to bridge if she runs for president again in 2016; Clinton must find way to escape association with unpopular Pres Obama. MORE

Oct. 16, 2014

Juliet Lapidos Editorial Observer notes in Kentucky's senate race, Alison Lundergan Grimes, Democratic challenger to Republican Sen Mitch McConnell, is running away from Pres Obama and spends more time attacking his policies than defending them; observes she is self-described Clintonian and it is not surprising she trails in most polls. MORE

Sep. 17, 2014

Kentucky is arguably one of the Affordable Care Act's biggest early successes, with about 10 percent of population getting coverage through state's online insurance marketplace; there is little evidence that expansion of health coverage will help Kentucky Democrats like Alison Lundergan Grimes in her challenge to Sen Mitch McConnell in midterm elections; situation reflects, in many ways, the politics of healthcare nationally as elections approach (Series: Remaking Medicine). MORE

Aug. 31, 2014

Race for Kentucky Senate seat between Republican Sen Mitch McConnell and Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes has become magnet for contributions from large outside 'super PACs' and wealthy individual donors; at stake is not only McConnell's position in the Senate, but also his long-held dream of being Senate majority leader. MORE

Aug. 28, 2014

Leaked audio recording reveals that Sen Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, recently laid out confrontational plan, should midterm elections give control of Senate to Republicans, to dismantle Pres Obama’s legislative successes through the federal budget; recording was made at a private conclave with the billionaire Koch brothers’ political apparatus. MORE

Aug. 3, 2014

Republican Sen Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes exchange barbs at church picnic in Fancy Farm, known for its barbecue; instead of genial and civil banter, they exchange low blows and political zingers. MORE

Jun. 29, 2014

Francis X Clines Quick History column reflects on events of past week, including rapid success of ISIS militants in Iraq, Supreme Court decision protecting smartphones from unwarranted search by police and Sen Mitch McConnell's awkward participation in song to commemorate Civil Rights Act of 1964. MORE

Jun. 4, 2014

Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell make a rare joint appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, offering drastically different opinions about the role of money in politics. MORE

May. 22, 2014

Gail Collins Op-Ed column notes results of primary elections all over country, including victory of Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky and defeat of several Tea Party candidates; says Republican establishment is essentially left to celebrate victory of boring right-wing candidates over crazy right-wing candidates. MORE

May. 21, 2014

Sen Mitch McConnell of easily wins Kentucky's Republican Senate primary over Tea Party opponent Matt Bevin; victory sets up one of most serious tests of his political career, general election matchup against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes; McConnell's victory comes on day when, in many high-profile primary contests across five other states, establishment Republicans came out on top over Tea Party challengers. MORE

May. 14, 2014

Profile of Elaine L Chao, wife of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell; Chao is expected to play an important role as McConnell gets ready to face Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky in re-election fight that could render him the Senate majority leader or a retiree. MORE

May. 3, 2014

Tea Party candidate Matt Bevin's efforts to unseat Kentucky Sen Mitch McConnell have faltered as McConnell enjoys surge in popularity; Tea Party groups had hoped that Bevin could score upset based on McConnell's low approval ratings and state's anti-government mood. MORE

Mar. 27, 2014

Re-election team of Sen Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, releases campaign ad showing a celebrating college basketball team in blue and white uniforms, but team is Duke, not the University of Kentucky; it is latest blunder in McConnell's re-election bid. MORE

Mar. 27, 2014

Editorial warns Kentucky Sen Mitch McConnell's resolution to block Environmental Protection Agency proposal to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants could be used to derail federal rule-making on number of issues; holds McConnell's action, even if it fails, dangerously escalates antiregulatory fervor; urges Democrats to shut down McConnell's effort. MORE

Mar. 17, 2014

Video released by re-election campaign of Sen Mitch McConnell featuring him wordlessly smiling becomes viral video sensation; popularity of video, which was publicly released to provide super PACs with high-quality images of McConnell to use in ads, is a cautionary or quirky tale of what can happen when the online world decides to subvert even the most carefully crafted of messages. MORE

Mar. 9, 2014

Mark Leibovich Your Fellow Americans column notes Senate race in Kentucky between Sen Mitch McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes shows that the job of spokesperson has changed; says job now requires no special education or experience, and the prized skill set is merely the ability to get one's noise heard above the rest of the cacophony. MORE

Mar. 4, 2014

Congressional Memo; Sen Mitch McConnell promises a more open floor if he becomes majority leader, saying he will restore certain rules and traditions; does not commit to reversing limits on filibusters, but says idea will be on the table if he is given control. MORE

Feb. 22, 2014

Democrats are coalescing around Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky’s secretary of state, in her bid to become her state's first female senator, and unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell; McConnell is deeply unpopular at home but he practically built the Republican Party in Kentucky and has spent decades reminding voters of federal dollars he has brought home. MORE

Feb. 16, 2014

Editorial warns that 2014 will be the moment when individual candidate super PACs become a truly toxic force in American politics, as can be seen in the Kentucky Senate race between Sen Mitch McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes; urges Congress to pass the Empowering Citizens Act, which would limit the spending of super PACs closely aligned to a campaign. MORE

Oct. 22, 2013

Editorial calls on Congress to permanently establish the 'McConnell Rule,' mechanism that would prevent use of the debt ceiling as a weapon by political minority; goes further by suggesting debt ceiling itself, World War I-era contrivance, ought to be abolished since it does not limit debt. MORE

Oct. 13, 2013

Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell begin last-ditch negotiations on reopening government and raising debt ceiling; talks between House Republicans and White House collapse, dashing hopes for quick resolution to political crisis that has paralyzed government. MORE

Sep. 24, 2013

Sen Mitch McConnell, wily Kentuckian who leads Senate Republicans, is balancing leadership demands with his re-election campaign as Congress nears another budget abyss; his decision to stay out of the budget fray is among central reasons a resolution seems distant; Democrats and, increasingly, Republicans are complaining that the minority leader’s absence from many negotiations has created a power vacuum and left Democrats without a bargaining partner. MORE

Aug. 5, 2013

Annual Fancy Farm picnic is venerable tradition in Kentucky, known for its delicious barbecue and raucous atmosphere in which political candidates hurl mocking one-liners; event is particularly energetic due to presence of Sen Mitch McConnell and several rivals who will compete for his seat in 2014. MORE

Jul. 25, 2013

Advisers to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is preparing to fend off Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky's 2014 Senate race, say McConnell will not only defend but also highlight his record to appeal to female voters. MORE

Jul. 12, 2013

Senate moves toward imposing historic limits on how filibuster can be used as Senate majority leader Harry Reid sets in motion series of votes on Obama administration nominees that could force long-festering fight with Republicans to a head; Sen Mitch McConnell, Republican leader, calls move to bar the minority party from filibustering presidential appointees a power grab. MORE

Jun. 16, 2013

Kentucky Sens Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul have formed odd-couple, scratch-my-back alliance largely out of expediency, after a rocky beginning to their relationship; McConnell, fearing a primary challenge from the right, has embraced Paul and others in Tea Party wing of Republican Party. MORE

Jun. 11, 2013

Political Memo; potential fight for a sixth term for Sen Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, could close the narrow opening for his legislative achievement as minority leader. MORE

Apr. 12, 2013

Secret recording of meeting at Sen Mitch McConnell's re-election headquarters is linked to political action committee Progress Kentucky. MORE

Apr. 10, 2013

Federal Bureau of Investigation will look into allegations by Sen Mitch McConnell of Kentucky that political opponents bugged his campaign headquarters. MORE

Jan. 7, 2013

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell makes clear in interviews that he will oppose any effort by Obama administration to raise more tax revenue and that he remains focused on finding ways to cut spending as government grapples with its debt. MORE

Dec. 29, 2012

House Speaker John A Boehner and Pres Obama, after weeks of fruitless negotiation, turn to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell to try to find solution to looming fiscal crisis; lawmakers hope last-minute tax deal can pass both chambers of Congress and at least stop the worst of the economic punch from landing beginning Jan 1. MORE

Jul. 8, 2012

Editorial criticizes Sen Mitch McConnell for penning an article denouncing Pres Obama for using the Internal Revenue Service to curtail free speech; contends that McConnell is worried because the IRS is finally examining whether outside political groups are abusing their tax exempt status by spending anonymous donations on political attack ads that largely benefit Republicans. MORE

National Desk

The Republican colleagues of Senator Mitch McConnell elected him majority whip without opposition, after a quiet, 18-month-long, senator-to-senator campaign, making Mr. McConnell the No. 2 Republican in the Senate.

February 23, 2015, Monday

Despite Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky’s pledge to avoid shutdowns, John A. Boehner, the House speaker, said he would allow funding for one of the government’s most vital agencies to lapse amid the immigration dispute.